1. Five Stages of Migration
Settling the West
Five Stages of Migration

2. Native Americans
Here for at least 14,000 years before European exploration
Coastal and plateau tribes
Well established civilization
Conflicts between tribes over fishing, hunting grounds, water supplies
By late 1700’s, population rapidly declined due to European diseases

3. European Exploration Started in the mid 1500’s until the early 1800’s
Spain, Great Britain, Russia and U.S. came to politically claim region
Very little violence between explorers and Native Americans
Built trading relationships
Explorers believed Native Americans were simple-minded people

4. Fur Traders Started in the 1800’s
Traded with Native Americans for furs
Britain and U.S. established trading posts and employed own citizens to trap
Competition between Native Americans and fur traders for space, food, and natural resources (land)
Increased conflicts

5. Missionaries During the 1830’s and 1840’s
“Christianize and Civilize” Native Americans
Saw Native Americans as “noble savage”
Whitman Massacre 1847
Misunderstanding between Whitmans and Native Americans about property
Marcus Whitman could not cure disease
Marcus Whitman brought settlers
Started 30 years of wars between Native Americans and U.S. settlers. U.S. army becomes involved.

6. Settlers Started coming in large numbers in the 1840’s Oregon Trail
Transcontinental Railroad
Few violent conflicts between settlers and Native Americans
U.S. Army pursues policy of genocide and confining Native Americans to reservations with or without treaties.